Reece Potter reveals what he likes in Mark Pope's vision

Lexington native Reece Potter announced that he was coming home to Kentucky on May 5 after spending the first two collegiate seasons of his career at Miami (OH). Potter, who played high school basketball at Lexington Catholic, averaged 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 56 career games for the Redhawks.

Potter is one of six incoming transfers in Kentucky‘s star-studded Transfer Portal class, joining Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen, Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate, Pittsburgh guard Jaland Lowe, Arizona State forward Jayden Quaintance, and Tulane forward Kam Williams to go along with returners guard Otega Oweh, forward Brandon Garrison, forward Trent Noah and guard Collin Chandler.

The former Redhawk revealed what liked in coach Mark Pope‘s vision earlier this week.

“[Mark Pope] kind of just says the assignment No. 9 and that’s what he’s trying to do,” Potter said. “He loves basketball. That’s what he’s here to do. He wasn’t brought in here to do anything else and he’s already done it before. He knows what has to be done because he’s done it before, so he knows what has to be done to do that so that’s why he’s brought in what he brought in.”

Potter is high on Kentucky’s defense

Potter, who measures in at seven-foot-one, claimed earlier this week that Kentucky was going to be the best defensive team in the country. Although he hasn’t been a part of the program for long, Potter is very high on his teammates.

“We’re gonna be the best defensive team in the country, I would probably say. I’m not gonna list people — we’ve got the whole team,” Potter said. “We’ve got a lot of length and shot blocking one through five. It’s gonna be a battle who’s gonna be the Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC because, I mean, it could probably be anybody. 

“Teams are gonna have a tough time. We can score the ball and we can defend, so I feel like that’s a recipe for success.”

The former Knight is one of 15 players on the Wildcats’ roster, which is one of the deepest in the country. It’s safe to say Potter enjoys the grind.

“I feel like it is an SEC game every single day in practice,” Potter said. “Every guy is going as hard as possible, our coaches push us every single day. I feel like the biggest thing right now is we push each other. I feel like that’s what is gonna make us a national championship (team). How much we gel off the court and how much we push each other.”